Behind the GRAMMY win and global acclaim, Wouter Kellerman describes 2025 as a year that sharpened his priorities and deepened his sense of purpose.
Johannesburg, South Africa (06 January 2026) – Before the awards, before the applause, before the global stages, there was connection. That’s what defined 2025 for Wouter Kellerman. A year filled with creativity, growth and deep gratitude, shaped as much by family and collaboration as it was by music.
We sat down with the South African Flautist, composer and producer who just so happens to also be a 3-time GRAMMY® Award Winner, Billboard No. 1 Artist, and 9-time SAMA (South African Music Award) winner, to chat about the year that was… and the one to come.
Looking back, Wouter doesn’t speak about the year in terms of milestones alone. He speaks about moments. About people. About the quiet grounding that comes from remembering what matters most.
“2025 brought moments of deep connection, creativity and growth. I’m so grateful for the music shared, the collaborations sparked and the friendships that continue to inspire,” he says. “As we step into 2026, we wish you warmth, peace, and joy.”
That sense of gratitude is not performative. It’s deeply lived. Despite a year filled with global recognition, Wouter remains anchored in the simple things that keep him steady.
“Spending time with my family is what grounds me the most,” he shares. “It brings me back to what matters very quickly. And as you get older, you also become more aware that time isn’t unlimited. That awareness has a way of sharpening your priorities. It makes you focus on what’s important, and let the rest fall away.”
Few moments encapsulate that more clearly than hearing the words, “And the GRAMMY goes to…”
“It is a moment that stays with you, a rush of emotion, disbelief and pure joy all at once,” Wouter says. “This recognition for Triveni is something we’ll carry with us for a long time. A big thank you to everyone who supported the album, collaborated so generously and believed in the vision from the very beginning. This project has been a true creative journey.”
That journey, he explains, was built on trust and vulnerability. It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t linear. And that was exactly what made it special.
“When three people from very different backgrounds come together, you’re not just blending sounds, you’re blending ways of thinking,” he explains. “Creating Triveni took longer than I expected. It wasn’t a straight line, we had to find the sweet spot between our different cultures and ways of approaching music. But once we found that place, it felt incredibly free.”
He pauses, then adds something that feels like a life lesson as much as a creative one.
“That is the beauty of collaboration. You usually end up being stretched out of your comfort zone, and in an unpredictable place that you never would have reached by yourself. It was an incredible privilege to go through this with Chandrika and Eru.”
While international recognition has followed, Wouter speaks with particular pride about being acknowledged closer to home. Receiving the All Africa Business Leaders Award for Sports, Arts & Culture, along with academic honours from South African institutions, carried a deeply personal meaning.
“South Africa is home, and it’s still my favourite place in the world by far,” he says. “So it is really special for me to be recognised at home. I also think we have so much to offer the world. People are hungry for the richness and diversity of Africa, and for the way we express what it means to be human, with rhythm, spirit, and heart.”
That belief is rooted in his own journey, which began not in music, but in engineering.
“My journey began studying engineering,” he reflects. “That foundation taught me discipline and the power of innovation. Today, that same spirit fuels my mission to make a difference through music and philanthropy.”
Those early lessons still guide how he approaches his career today.
“The days where most musicians could just focus on the art are gone,” Wouter explains. “These days, you have to take responsibility for the full 360 degrees of your career – the creative side, the business side, the admin, the planning, all of it. That mindset has helped me stay consistent and build something that lasts.”
He is also quick to acknowledge that no journey is built alone. 2025 marked a standout year not only for him, but for his business partner and manager, Tholsi Pillay.
“This year wasn’t only memorable for me,” Wouter says. “It marked an extraordinary chapter for Tholsi, whose insight, commitment and steady leadership continue to shape our musical journey in meaningful ways.”
Her recognition as FORBES AFRICA Woman of the Year, Champion of Entertainment Promotion, along with Artist Manager of the Year at the Basadi in Music Awards, felt both deserved and overdue.
“Through tireless work, strategic thinking and genuine belief in the artists she represents, she continues to open doors, build bridges and elevate African music on a global stage,” he says. “Often working quietly behind the scenes, it’s powerful to see her leadership recognised so publicly.”
As he steps into 2026, Wouter isn’t chasing bigger titles or louder moments. His focus remains rooted in the joy of creation.
“What gets me up in the morning is beautiful music,” he says. “That is enough for me to enter the day with a spring in my step. I’m looking forward to sharing more good energy, special music, and some positive and profound moments this year.”
And for the next generation watching from home, his hope is simple, but deeply meaningful.
“I hope young African artists feel free to be themselves, to lean into their own sound, their own story, their own culture,” he says. “Africa has so much depth, rhythm, history and soul, and the world is hungry for real stories.”
At its core, that belief explains everything Wouter Kellerman does.
“Music has a unique way of bringing us closer,” he says. “Across cultures, borders and stories, it reminds us that we all share the same heartbeat.”
And as his journey continues, it’s clear that while awards may mark moments in time, it is connection, intention and shared humanity that continue to shape the music, and the man, behind it.
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